PBR bucks into Tulsa this weekend

Staff Report

The Professional Bull Riders are bringing the world’s best bull riders and bulls to Tulsa’s BOK Center on Friday and Saturday (August 10-11) to compete for more than $125,000 in prize money.

The Built Ford Tough Series features the best, highest-paid bull riders in the world, including home state favorites Ryan Dirteater from Hulbert, L.J. Jenkins from Porum, and Austin Meier from Kinta. Cousins Jenkins and Meier are ranked second and eighth, respectively, in the BFTS standings while Dirteater is ranked 11th.

Two-time PBR World Champion Chris Shivers, who earlier this year announced his retirement following the 2012 World Finals, will return to competition for the first time since a broken collarbone in late March.

Tickets begin at $12, and are on sale at the Arby’s Box Office at the BOK Center, www.BOKCenter.com, Tickets.com outlets, and by telephone at (866) 7-BOKCTR. Ticket price will increase $2 on day of show.

Fans will witness thrilling 8-second rides and jaw-dropping wrecks throughout the adrenaline-soaked performance as the PBR’s insanely brave cowboys risk it all against monstrous animal athletes that can weigh as much as 2,000 pounds.

The BFTS is televised every week on CBS, CBS Sports Network, NBC, NBC Sports Network, and YouTube. BFTS telecasts are produced for the PBR under a multi-year agreement with David Neal Productions, a Los Angeles-based production company led by 34-time Emmy® Award winner and Peabody Award winner David Neal, who serves as executive producer.

The PBR is the world’s premier bull riding organization. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of the PBR. In just two decades, the dream of 20 bull riders has become a global sports phenomenon that is televised worldwide. More than 100 million viewers annually watch primetime PBR programming on networks around the world including CBS, CBS Sports Network, NBC, and NBC Sports Network. The PBR has awarded over $100 million in prize money and 24 riders have earned over $1 million, including Justin McBride with $5.5 million — the most of any western sports athlete in history. Nearly two million fans attend Built Ford Tough Series and Touring Pro Division events each year. For more information on the PBR, go to www.pbr.com, or follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TeamPBR and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/PBR.